Built on Integrity Driven by Purpose
Established in
1946
Our Heritage
BUILDING THE
BACKBONE.
WHAT DEFINES OUR WORK
FIELD EXECUTION
EXPLORE OUR SERVICESEXPLORE OUR SERVICESSEE OUR WORK IN ACTION
SAFETY IS OUR
CULTURE.
SAFETY PROGRAMSAFETY PROGRAMOUR HISTORY
FROM THE 1930s TO TODAY
ROOTS OF A LEGACY
1930s–1946
Gene Simonds studied at the University of Illinois, worked for IDOT, and then served in the Army Air Force as a B-24 navigator flying missions over Germany during WWII. He returned home in January 1946 with the experience, discipline, and resilience that would help shape the company to come.
BUILT FROM HOME
1946
In April 1946, Gene and Katy Simonds started the business with Jack Campbell. They began with a pickup truck, a wheelbarrow, and a few shovels, operating out of their home with Katy as bookkeeper and Gene leading operations.
FIRST OFFICE & ASPHALT
1949
In 1949, Gene, Al, Jack, and Charlie Harrison purchased Franklin Asphalt Company in Benton and moved into their first office, remembered as the “Old Chicken House.” It marked an early leap in both asphalt work and long-term growth.
FIRST MAJOR PROJECT
1950
The company earned its first major project in 1950: the basement and foundation work for the Coca-Cola bottling plant in DuQuoin. It was a defining milestone that proved the team could successfully deliver larger and more demanding work.
RUNWAYS TO INTERSTATES
1958–1975
The first major paving project came in 1958 with new runways at Springfield Airport. In the years that followed, E.T. Simonds helped build stretches of I-57 and laid nearly all the hot mix and concrete paving on I-24 from Metropolis to the I-57 interchange.
ONE COMPANY, ONE NAME
1970–1971
Through a series of mergers, E.T. Simonds Construction Co., Howell Construction Co., Franklin Asphalt Co., and Gilmore Asphalt Co. became one unified company under the E.T. Simonds name, creating a stronger and more focused organization for the future.
A HOME FOR THE FUTURE
1980
In 1980, the company built its present office, repair shop, and storage area on 40 acres at 1500 North Oakland. It later added 68 more acres, creating the room needed to support continued growth in people, equipment, and operations.
GENERATIONS OF LEADERSHIP
1989–2006
After Eugene T. Simonds passed away in 1989, leadership moved to Edward T. “Bill” Simonds. In the years that followed, Kassy Simonds, Will Pyatt, Beck Simonds, and Kate Simonds Stevens helped carry the legacy forward through a new generation of leadership.
A NEW CHAPTER
2014
In 2014, E.T. Simonds Materials was formed and Short Brothers Construction was purchased. That same year, co-founder Mrs. E.T. Simonds passed away at 100 years of age, closing an extraordinary chapter while inspiring the next one.
EXPANDING THE LEGACY
2023
In 2023, the company acquired Southern Illinois Asphalt and Southern Illinois Materials, extending its reach and reinforcing its long-standing commitment to serving the region with trusted materials and strong infrastructure.
OUR HISTORY
FROM THE 1930s TO TODAY
ROOTS OF A LEGACY
1930s–1946
Gene Simonds studied at the University of Illinois, worked for IDOT, and then served in the Army Air Force as a B-24 navigator flying missions over Germany during WWII. He returned home in January 1946 with the experience, discipline, and resilience that would help shape the company to come.
BUILT FROM HOME
1946
In April 1946, Gene and Katy Simonds started the business with Jack Campbell. They began with a pickup truck, a wheelbarrow, and a few shovels, operating out of their home with Katy as bookkeeper and Gene leading operations.
FIRST OFFICE & ASPHALT
1949
In 1949, Gene, Al, Jack, and Charlie Harrison purchased Franklin Asphalt Company in Benton and moved into their first office, remembered as the “Old Chicken House.” It marked an early leap in both asphalt work and long-term growth.
FIRST MAJOR PROJECT
1950
The company earned its first major project in 1950: the basement and foundation work for the Coca-Cola bottling plant in DuQuoin. It was a defining milestone that proved the team could successfully deliver larger and more demanding work.
RUNWAYS TO INTERSTATES
1958–1975
The first major paving project came in 1958 with new runways at Springfield Airport. In the years that followed, E.T. Simonds helped build stretches of I-57 and laid nearly all the hot mix and concrete paving on I-24 from Metropolis to the I-57 interchange.
ONE COMPANY, ONE NAME
1970–1971
Through a series of mergers, E.T. Simonds Construction Co., Howell Construction Co., Franklin Asphalt Co., and Gilmore Asphalt Co. became one unified company under the E.T. Simonds name, creating a stronger and more focused organization for the future.
A HOME FOR THE FUTURE
1980
In 1980, the company built its present office, repair shop, and storage area on 40 acres at 1500 North Oakland. It later added 68 more acres, creating the room needed to support continued growth in people, equipment, and operations.
GENERATIONS OF LEADERSHIP
1989–2006
After Eugene T. Simonds passed away in 1989, leadership moved to Edward T. “Bill” Simonds. In the years that followed, Kassy Simonds, Will Pyatt, Beck Simonds, and Kate Simonds Stevens helped carry the legacy forward through a new generation of leadership.
A NEW CHAPTER
2014
In 2014, E.T. Simonds Materials was formed and Short Brothers Construction was purchased. That same year, co-founder Mrs. E.T. Simonds passed away at 100 years of age, closing an extraordinary chapter while inspiring the next one.
EXPANDING THE LEGACY
2023
In 2023, the company acquired Southern Illinois Asphalt and Southern Illinois Materials, extending its reach and reinforcing its long-standing commitment to serving the region with trusted materials and strong infrastructure.
SERVING
ILLINOIS
Building infrastructure across more than 20 Southern
Illinois counties, from major highways to the hometown streets you drive everyday.
Building infrastructure across more than 20 Southern Illinois counties, from major highways to the hometown streets you drive everyday.
ALEXANDER
EDWARDS
FRANKLIN
GALLATIN
HAMILTON
HARDIN
JACKSON
JEFFERSON
JOHNSON
MASSAC
PERRY
POPE
PULASKI
RANDOLPH
SALINE
UNION
WABASH
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WHITE
WILLIAMSON